To commemorate 2024 World Environment Day: Indigenous populations, CSOs implore gov’t to curb forest exploitation.

It was presented to the Minister of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development, MINEPDED, Hélé Pierre, Thursday June 5 in Yaounde. 

This was on the occasion of World Environment Day, celebrated this year under the theme: “Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience”.

The letter, which was presented in prelude to a march from the Anastasie Park at the Warda neighbourhood in Yaounde, to the esplanade of the ministry of environment, was a brain child of the Climate Justice Movement, CJM, an initiative of Greenpeace Africa.

According to the Coordinator of the Cameroon Youth Centre for Greenpeace Africa dubbed ‘Mboa Hub’, Rex Andoh, the march was a call to action for government, CSOs and the public to step up their actions in environmental protection. 

“This march today is a huge environmental awareness and sensitisation campaign looking at all the problems our climate is currently facing. We realised that in this combat against climate change, we cannot do it alone; that is why we started this coalition dubbed Climate Justice Movement, through which we have worked with over 8,000 young persons in our bid to form a youth-centric climate justice movement,” Andoh said.

He added that through the Climate Justice Movement, they have rallied young persons, CSOs and traditional rulers, to build their capacities and encourage them speak out on environmental malpractices.

Andoh also called on the government to support and collaborate with the movement, as well as other CSOs who seek for avenues to make positive change in the society.

Environment Minister reacts

The Minister of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development, Hélé Pierre, commended CJM for its action, which he called spontaneous. 

He thanked the movement for actions carried out to end the effects of land degradation, droughts and climate change in the country, and for mobilising thousands of young people to share in the dire state over exploitation of forest has put indigenous people in and make their grievances known.

“We have heard you and we will look into your proposals and do our best to protect the environment and your rights. We also call on all Cameroonians to take action as we cannot do it alone,” Minister Hélé stated.

He equally encouraged CJM and called on them not to relent their efforts as the government counts on the dynamism and energy the youth add in the climate change fight.

“You young people give us hope that when we work together, more can be done. We can do it and we will do it,” the minister noted.

Indigenous populations reveal plight 

While handing over the letter to the Minister of Environment, the representative of indigenous people, His Royal Highness Chief Yetina Victor of Ndikbassogog I village in Nkam Division of the Littoral Region, stressed that the government should take strict action against illegal deforestation and mining that have caused devastating consequences on the environment, but most especially on indigenous people.

“Our message is calling on the government to strictly ensure the respect of measures put in place regarding forests exploitation, which is hardly respected by exploiters. By killing the forests, exploiters are killing livelihoods,” Chief Yetina told the press.

He noted with hope that things will take a different turn as the minister assured them actions will be taken.

Enter forest activists 

During the march, climate and environmental activists brandished placards and boards with warning messages including: ‘there is no planet B’, ‘no forests no future’, ‘climate action now and keep our beautiful planet intact’, among others. 

Forest activist, Dr. Lamfu Fabrice, pointed out that what was handed over to the government is a policy paper containing a declaration that was made in Kribi last month by communities greatly impacted by extractive industries. 

He said the effects of the depletion of the environment do not only impact local communities and indigenous people, hence the need for global action.

“We work with indigenous people and today we mobilised non-indigenous people to help amplify their voices nationally and internationally as they are the ones mostly hit by forests exploitation,” Dr. Lamfu noted.

Other activists such as renowned teenage artists, Jato Sonita, were also present to lend their voices to the plight of indigenous people.

CJM is a network of nearly 30 civil society organisations from all 10 regions of Cameroon, working to protect the environment. It serves as a platform for exchange and collective action to better protect the environment in Cameroon.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No3133 of Thursday June 06, 2024